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The Royal post path in Nærøyfjord |
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 I did not have much time at hand. So it had to be a "turbo-tour" to Sognefjord this time. After some planning and a few telephone calls, I knew where and when to go. After checking the weather report, I was optimistic regarding the weather. The forecast at yr.no looked good, they predicted sun and clear blue sky the next day at 12:00 hrs.
Watch video from the walk in Nærøyfjord; Click here... |
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| The Royal post path in Nærøyfjord 2007 |
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Due to the weatherforecast I chose to wear shorts. I put on my rucksack and cycled down to the local train to Oslo. From here I took the night express train towards Bergen. The bicycle was delivered in the goods wagon, I had ordered "ticket" for it in advance. The train passed Finse at 1222m, which is the highest point on the Bergen Railway. Immediately after Finse we arrived at Myrdal Train Station (865.5 metres above sea level). I left the train here at 05:00 hrs. |
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It was dark and cold, fog and drizzling rain. But the summer was not over and I was still wearing the shorts. I started the bicycle tour at 05:30 hrs, down the last part of Rallarvegen (the Navvies Road) towards Flåmsdalen Valley. It was a magic atmosphere in the dark. The waterfalls were frothing and roaring, the forest with it's numerous threes were covered with moss. The air was fresh and cold. I was completely alone. Wonderful! The zigzag path down towards Flåmsdalen Valley was steep, slippery and rocky. But it turned out well, and soon I was down in the main valley. Flåmsdalen Valley is wild and beautiful with it's steep mountains and vertical waterfalls. The path had now become a road, and the twenty kilometres from Myrdal to Flåm were an easy ride. The road is more or less downhill or flat all the way, and at 08:30 hrs I arrived Flåm, the end point of the bicycle tour. At 09:00 hrs I entered the boat towards Gudvangen. It took me out the Aurlandsfjord and in the Nærøyfjord. Two hours later I arrived at Gudvangen after a fantastic boat trip in two of the most spectacular fjords in the world. |
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Here I met Kjetil Tufte, he came in his boat from Bakka further out the fjord. We had arranged in advance that he would pick me up and bring me to Bleiklindi. Kjetil helps people who need conveyance over the fjord, I was informed about him when I called the Tourist Information at Flåm. Bleiklindi is a good starting point for walking the Royal post path to Styvi 6 kilometer further out the Nærøyfjord. I had a longer break at the Quay at Bleiklindi. The weather was cloudy when I arrived, but when I started the walk later at 13:00 hrs, it was sun from clear blue sky. The forecast from yr.no seemed to be correct.
I have been kayaking in Nærøyfjord several times before. But I have never walked this path and seen the fjord from land. It was a fantastic experience to see the fjord from another perspective. Nærøyfjord is like a painting, with new motif's turning up almost every step I took. Most of the people I saw were either in boat, canoe or kayak, but I also met a few on land. The boat traffic had increased since last time I was here, probably due to status as a UNESCO World Heritage site. |
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At Odnes, I had a break near the outlet of the river Odneselvi. I was drinking cold clear water from the river while enjoying the view towards the fjord, the mountains, the boats and the kayaks passing by. Then the walk continued out the fjord, passing Klungrenes before I arrived Styvi at 16:30 hrs. Styvi is the endpoint of the path, and the view from here is spectacular. Kjellaug and Botolv at Styvi are staying here during the summer, serving people waffles and coffee. They also have a farm museum with old tools etc. Styvi has got the smallest post office in Norway and they have their own postal code (5748 STYVI) despite there's nobody living there during the winter.
The last ferry from Gudvangen came out the fjord. To inform them to stop at Styvi, I turned on the flasher at the quay. I said goodbye to Kjellaug and Botolv, and boarded the ferry. From the ferry, Styvi and the mountains became smaller and smaller. And soon both Styvi and Nærøyfjord disappeared when the ferry turned around Beitelen and into the Aurlandsfjord. |
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Back at Flåm, I entered the train at Flåmsbana Railway. This railway is one of Norway's most spectacular with it's 1 to 18 gradient and 20 tunnels, taking you up the Flåmsdalen Valley to Myrdal. After a short stop at the wild and beautiful Kjosfossen waterfall, the journey continued to the end station Myrdal which I left 16 hours ago. A few hours waiting at the station before I entered the night train, this time opposite way towards Oslo. I was tired in both meanings, but also full of impressions and experiences. A fantastic day in Sogn was at it's end. I couldn't bear waiting till next summer and next chance to come back to my favourite place on earth... Guiding along Nærøyfjord: www.vossafjell.no |
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Watch video from the walk in Nærøyfjord; Click here... |
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